Biodiversity dictates unique living conditions for the world’s population of animals and plants. As a result of many issues that include deforestation, climate change, predator introduction, and human interaction and interference, our world of uniqueness gets smaller and smaller every year. Over time, the loss of various essential elements eliminates hospitable environs for our once flourishing nature. In time, it stands to reason that changing environments deliver catastrophic results where nature is concerned. For bird lovers, this means the extinction of beautiful exotic birds in the wild.

One of the changes that help greatly where conservation is concerned is the establishment of reserves and protected areas. Of Mexico’s more than 40 protected biosphere reserves, one has recently begun to fulfill an intent that re-introduces scarlet macaws back into their original habitat. It is the hope of the responsible parties that the area of the Tuxlas region of Veracruz will once again thrive with scores of scarlet macaws.

A Place For Macaws

The privately owned Xcaret Park has bred scarlet macaws for the last two decades with the intent to return them to the wild. Working with the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM) within their maintained bird sanctuary, both have released 130 scarlet macaws back into the region of the Tuxlas Biosphere Reserve over a period of four years. Because of this, the birds have started to flourish after having completely disappeared from the region more than 40 years ago. Using the necessary combined effort of re-educating the people of the region to learn respect and care for the nests as they appear, the project is succeeding.

Recently, another 26 birds were released into the Tuxlas Biosphere Reserve in two specific areas. With the conclusion of the project, it is hoped that a total of 500 well-cared and trained scarlet macaws will be released into an area that once painted the skies with the art of colorful birds in flight.

The release program is heavily dependent upon the birds’ ability to adjust to the wild, learning to take care of themselves, foraging and setting up useful living spots. The initial and later scarlet macaw releases have brought hope, as the birds have shown great ability to adapt and forego human assistance.

Within the Tuxlas Biosphere Reserve there are amazing things to note. Most importantly, it is the most northern point of a rainforest and home to 2,698 species of plant life, 877 species of vertebrates that include amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and 569 species of birds. In addition, there is a remarkable population of 860 species of butterflies found in this rainy locale. For migratory birds, this region is a key spot for many North American birds. In all, 223 of the migratory birds found within this region in one time or another are of the overall 569 species that are registered to this area. For lovers of nature and the beauty of it, this region is a desired travel location for many who want to see nature as it should be enjoyed. Other native exotic birds here include the keel-billed Toucan and various species of hummingbirds.

Let’s hope that the reintroduction of the scarlet macaw will be overwhelmingly successful in the end, thus returning a majestic bird back to the wild. Time, help, support, and interaction will bring this to fruition.